NYC Council considers removing statues of Washington, Columbus, proposes reparations amid budget crisis

New York City Council is advancing a proposal to remove statues of figures like George Washington and Christopher Columbus.
The legislation would require removing or adding explanatory plaques for art depicting those tied to slavery or crimes against humanity.
The proposal has sparked debates over erasing history versus confronting painful legacies.
NYC is also considering creating a reparations task force for Americans impacted by past injustices.
These proposals come as NYC faces extreme budget cuts due to costs from the migrant crisis.